The column is an open letter to New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, a frequent industry critic, who recently wrote that the Detroit automakers have dropped the ball on leading innovation, among other sins.

"Tom -- hello. Have you heard of the Chevrolet Volt, which could be the first plug-in hybrid to hit the market?" Haglund writes. "That's if parent company General Motors Corp. survives until the Volt's planned introduction in 2010."

Chrysler, too, lept seemingly without warning a few months ago into the forefront of the race to bring plug-ins to the market in 2010. The announcement quickly was overshadowed by news of the Auburn Hills-based automaker's larger financial problems and discussions, later discontinued, regarding a merger with GM.

Chrysler also has deservedly drawn accolades for innovations in its minivans. And Ford has arguably done the best of any auto company tying itself to advanced vehicle-computer interface technology with its Sync partnership with Microsoft.

I'm reminded of a comment made by East Lansing economist Patrick Anderson, who spoke at a recent Automation Alley luncheon in Troy. Discussing an interview appearance with one of the cable news channels, Anderson recounted his response to a question about technology in Detroit-made vehicles.

His car, Anderson said (and I'm paraphrasing him here), will lower the volume on the stereo when his phone rings, dial numbers on voice command, tell him how to get to his destination and crashes far less often than his home PC.